What term refers to the amount of air you can still inhale or exhale after a normal breath?

• A. Dead Space
• B. Tidal Volume
• C. Inspiratory and Expiratory Reserve Volume
• D. Residual Volume

Answer: (C)

The key idea is the air left for each direction beyond a normal breath, known as reserve volumes. After a normal breath, you can inhale extra air (inspiratory reserve volume) and you can exhale extra air (expiratory reserve volume). The term that encompasses both directions is inspiratory and expiratory reserve volumes. This reflects the additional capacity your lungs can move beyond the tidal volume during forced breathing.

The other terms don’t fit: dead space is the air in passageways not involved in gas exchange; tidal volume is the amount moved during a normal breath; residual volume is the air remaining in the lungs after a maximal exhale and cannot be expelled.